In the final episode of Taking the Lead,  Christina Brady, CEO and Co-Founder of Luster, reflects on the podcast's four-year journey. She highlights the inspirational stories of over 80 women leaders in tech who shared their experiences, challenges, and successes. Christina emphasizes the show's mission to elevate women's voices and promote diversity in the industry, celebrating the unity found in diverse thoughts, cultures, and orientations.

Christina also shares her personal evolution from Chief Strategy Officer to SVP of Sales, and now to CEO and Co-founder of Luster, an AI tech company. She expresses her commitment to fostering a diverse and respectful culture within her new venture. As she bids farewell to the podcast, she thanks her listeners for their support and encourages them to continue finding inspiration in the episodes, which will remain available.

In this episode of "Taking the Lead," host Christina Brady sits down with Jenn Glabicky, a seasoned expert in sales enablement and revenue operations. Jenn shares her unique journey from the world of medical sales to becoming a key player in sales enablement, highlighting the challenges and successes she encountered along the way.

Jenn dives into the complexities of defining sales enablement, emphasizing the often misunderstood and varied nature of the role within different organizations. She discusses the importance of aligning enablement strategies with company goals, the need for collaboration across departments, and the critical role of proper training and strategic planning in achieving business success.

Throughout the episode, Jenn offers valuable insights into the pressures of transitioning from a high-stakes medical environment to the dynamic world of sales enablement. She also touches on the personal and professional burnout faced by many in the field, sharing her strategies for maintaining alignment and pushing forward in the ever-evolving landscape of enablement.

In this episode of Taking the Lead, host Christina Brady chats with Jodi Mesa, the Chief Product Officer and co-founder of Luster. Jodi shares her self-taught journey in tech, starting from college where she learned HTML and JavaScript on her own, to leading product teams. She emphasizes the importance of understanding customer needs and the strategic handling of tech debt.

Jodi discusses the balance between good and bad tech debt, explaining how some level of tech debt can foster quick experimentation, while excessive tech debt can slow progress and hurt customer experience. She highlights the need for hiring top talent to build robust and scalable products, and the importance of being customer-centric in product development.

Christina and Jodi also dive into leadership challenges, especially for women in tech. Jodi shares insights on overcoming self-limiting beliefs and making tough decisions in product management. She stresses the significance of mentorship and continuous learning in navigating a successful career in tech.

In this illuminating episode of "Tech Qualified," hosts Justin Brown and Meredith Medsker engage with Ryan Tidwell from Saltmine, exploring the unique challenges of marketing within niche B2B spaces. Ryan shares his journey of marketing in underrepresented sectors like prop tech and how crucial consistency and tailored strategies are for his 'small but scrappy' team. His insights reveal that success lies not in grand gestures but in steady, thoughtful marketing that resonates with a specific audience.

Ryan emphasizes the importance of understanding the audience's needs, avoiding one-size-fits-all solutions, and instead focusing on what truly matters to them. This approach requires marketers to think critically about the utility and clarity of their content, ensuring it speaks directly to the concerns and interests of their niche audience.

The discussion also delves into the broader implications of marketing strategies that prioritize authenticity and strategic thinking over flashy, transient tactics. By sharing examples from his own experience, Ryanl illustrates how effective marketing in specialized fields doesn't always follow the mainstream but instead builds its own path to resonate deeply with its intended audience. This episode is a must-listen for marketers aiming to leverage limited resources for maximum impact.

In this episode of Taking the Lead, host Christina Brady welcomes Stephanie White from Medallia. They dive into the nuances of customer experiences and the journey through various sales roles that Stephanie has navigated. Beginning with experiential marketing, Stephanie shares her grassroots approach to gathering customer feedback and how it has shaped her perspective on sales and customer interaction.

Stephanie emphasizes the importance of communication in sales and leadership. She discusses her strategies for setting and shifting conversational tones to ensure productive and positive outcomes. Her insights are grounded in real-life examples, illustrating her ability to adapt and thrive in dynamic environments.

The conversation also explores the broader impacts of career changes and personal growth. Stephanie's story is a testament to embracing the "zigzags" of a career path, highlighting the significance of resilience and adaptability in professional success and satisfaction.

In this episode of Taking the Lead, Christina Brady shares her appearance in The Sour Takes Podcast, hosted by Jason Hasenberg. The dialogue traverses the nuanced terrains of sales strategies, onboarding processes, and the crucial role of diversity and inclusivity in fostering dynamic sales teams. Christina shares her seasoned insights, drawing from her rich experiences to shed light on evolving sales practices.

The discussion dives into the challenges of sales ramp-up times, advocating for a more humane and individualized approach to onboarding. Christina underscores the importance of acknowledging diverse learning curves and the potential of tailored training to elevate sales outcomes. Her perspective offers a fresh lens through which to view sales training, one that champions adaptability and continuous improvement.

Furthermore, the episode highlights the significance of diversity in enriching sales teams. Christina’s narrative emphasizes how inclusivity not only fosters a vibrant workplace culture but also drives innovative sales strategies. This crossover episode not only serves as a platform for sharing expert knowledge but also underscores the synergy between diversity and sales excellence, providing listeners with actionable insights and thought-provoking discussions.

In this episode of Taking the Lead, host Christina Brady sits down with Meredith Chandler from Pclub.io to dive into the intricacies of sales leadership and team dynamics. They discuss Meredith's journey from her early days in tech sales to her current leadership role, highlighting the lessons learned and strategies developed along the way.

Meredith shares valuable insights into building a successful sales culture, emphasizing the importance of resilience, adaptability, and the power of a positive team environment. She offers practical advice for overcoming common sales challenges, drawing on her own experiences to guide listeners on how to achieve excellence in sales.

The conversation also touches on the future of sales and leadership, with Meredith providing her perspective on the skills and attributes that will be most valuable in the evolving landscape. This episode offers a blend of personal anecdotes and expert advice, making it a must-listen for anyone looking to enhance their sales and leadership skills.

In this insightful episode of Taking The Lead, host Christina Brady sits down with Del Nakhi, CEO of Lead to Catalyze, to delve into the intricacies of leadership and its pivotal role in organizational success. Del shares her personal journey from the nonprofit sector to entrepreneurship, emphasizing the significance of leadership development. Through her experience, she illustrates the transformative power of effective leadership in driving employee engagement and organizational change.

The episode further explores common challenges faced by emerging leaders, such as the delicate balance between delegation and micromanagement. Del advocates for a proactive approach to leadership development, underscoring the need for tailored programs that address these challenges and enhance self-awareness among leaders.

Ultimately, the discussion underscores the critical impact of investing in leadership skills across all levels of an organization. By fostering a culture of continuous learning and self-improvement, Del suggests that companies can significantly improve their operational effectiveness and employee satisfaction, leading to sustained growth and success.

In this episode of Taking the Lead, Christina Brady engages in a thought-provoking conversation with Laura Wheeler, owner and operator of Renegade Operations. Laura begins by sharing her journey from go-to-market leadership roles to founding her company. Renegade Operations stands out for its bold approach to redefining revenue operations with a human touch. Laura emphasizes humanizing revenue operations, focusing on process change, enablement, and understanding buyers' evolving behaviors.

Laura dives into her unique professional background, which combines operating, enabling, and being an equity analyst. This diverse experience has given her a holistic view of the industry, allowing her to tackle challenges in revenue operations innovatively. Laura's approach is not just about operational change but also about fostering a fun and understanding environment for clients and their buyers.

The episode explores Laura's philosophy of breaking down silos and building effective customer journeys. She discusses the importance of empathy and open communication between cross-functional teams. Laura believes in the power of collaboration, where stakeholders contribute to creating efficient processes and, ultimately, a seamless customer journey. This conversation offers valuable insights into modernizing revenue operations and enhancing customer experiences.

In a unique crossover episode, Elyse Archer welcomes Christina Brady, host of "Taking the Lead," to "She Sells Radio." Christina, with a background in music and improv, brings a fresh perspective to sales and leadership in the SaaS industry.

Christina discusses her transition from an artistic career to B2B sales, emphasizing the importance of authentic human connections and listening in sales processes. She shares insights from her journey, highlighting the crucial role of intent and customer understanding in successful sales. Her approach combines creativity with a strategic mindset, demonstrating how sales are about more than just closing deals; they're about building genuine relationships and understanding customer needs.

The episode is a deep dive into how soft skills, honed in non-traditional backgrounds, can significantly enhance sales techniques, making it a valuable listen for anyone in sales or customer-facing roles.